Bacon-Wrapped Dried Apricots

A quick-fix appetizer, whether for hungry party-goers or a quick snack if supper's a little slow to the table. Yes – it's bacon, wrapped just one-layer thick around a plump dried apricot which turns sweet and creamy. Because a single strip of bacon makes three (and often four) appetizers, because the fat is cooked off, Bacon-Wrapped Apricots are surprisingly low in calories. It takes three appetizers to get to 100 calories!

My Number One Party Tip? When people walk in the door, have something small and tasty waiting on the table or island or wherever people gather. It’s finger food for immediate consumption, no forks required, napkins optional.

But these bite-size bacon appetizers make up so quickly, I’m also happy to fix a small plate for two using a single slice of bacon, two bites for him, one for me. It’s a good solution to feed the famished when supper is a little slow to reach the table.

ALANNA’s TIPS For this appetizer to be surprising and extra-special versus just-okay-good, use fresh and plump dried apricots. Wrapped and baked in bacon, the apricots turn all soft and creamy. Dried fruit can be expensive. It should come as no surprise, think of how much fresh fruit is dried into a much-smaller package. For the best prices and turnover (read freshness) for dried fruit and nuts, I turn again and again to Trader Joe’s. St. Louisans, Global Foods in Kirkwood also carries really good dried fruit at good prices. Much bacon was consumed to “get this recipe exactly right”. We experimented with several fillings and several brush-on sauces. We fixed on a single layer of bacon because it cooked faster and of course, meant fewer calories per bite without giving up any of the real bacon essence. We fixed on apricots because of unusualness and more than anything, their sweet creaminess. We fixed on hoisin because it added a nice spicy sweetness and its color made the bacon look more palatable.

Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Do you have a favorite quick-fix appetizer recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. Follow Kitchen Parade on Facebook!

BACON-WRAPPED DRIED APRICOTS

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time to table: 30 minutes

Regular or thick-cut bacon, preferably meaty

Dried apricots, preferably soft and fresh (see TIPS)

Hoisin sauce

For a variety plate, more bacon-wrapped ideas, all good:

Pineapple chunks, drained

Chicken breast, cut in small pieces with scissors

Fresh shrimp, peeled

Preheat oven to 400F. For easy cleanup and to save your pan (that’s the voice of experience talkin’), line a baking dish with foil or parchment; make sure it has sides so the bacon grease won’t run off.

With kitchen shears (much easier than a knife), cut bacon in thirds or fourths. Fold an apricot in half and roll bacon piece around it. Secure with a toothpick, inserting it where the bacon edges cross. (If making ahead, stop here and refrigerate for up to several hours.)

Arrange pieces in the baking dish, seam-side down. Brush the topsides with hoisin, about a half teaspoon per bacon bite.

Bake for 20 minutes for regular bacon or about 25 minutes for thick-cut bacon until the bacon is cooked through and the apricots are soft and creamy. If needed for appearance, brush lightly again with hoisin.

Arrange on a platter and let cool briefly to serve. Best warm or at room temperature but surprisingly good stone-cold and almost candy-like after time in the refrigerator.

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"My Number One Party Tip? When people walk in the door, have something small and tasty waiting on the table or island or wherever people gather. It’s finger food for immediate consumption, no forks required, napkins optional." Great tip! I like serving food informally like this.

Superb post. I haven't done a whole lot of the bacon-wrapped fruit appetizers in the past few years, but want to do some again. Figs are also great wrapped in bacon (and stuffed with cheese). Great tips about buying dried fruit, the kitchen shears - just a nice post. Thanks.

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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. But I also love hearing your reactions, your curiosity, even your concerns! When you've made a recipe, I especially love to know how it turned out, what variations you made, what you'll do differently the next time. ~ Alanna